Nintendo has been granted a patent for a "messaging service for video game systems with buddy list that displays game being played." According to IGN's decryption of the legal jargon, it describes an instant messaging service that isn't specific to any one system; accounts, messages and buddy lists would be shared across multiple consoles.

Interestingly, the patent was first filed way back in 2000 (the patent office doesn't like to hurry with these things), and thus the application comes with illustrations of how the service would work with an N64. But, again, it isn't tied to any particular system. IGN also says "the patent goes to great trouble to describe the messaging service working with portable game systems, as well as working within a device which emulates other game systems." Nintendo was making provisions for emulators back in 2000?

At any rate, it's true that companies often file for patents for things that never see the light of day. But this goes to show that Nintendo does have some sort of plan in place, and honestly, it would be really silly for them to not use it or something similar.

Source: IGN